Book 10

           1.Tomysoul:

           Areyouevergoingtoachievegoodness?Evergoingtobesimple,whole,andnaked—asplaintoseeasthebodythatcontainsyou?Knowwhatanaffectionateandlovingdispositionwouldfeellike?Everbefulfilled,everstopdesiring—lustingandlongingforpeopleandthingstoenjoy?Orformoretimetoenjoythem?Orforsomeotherplaceorcountry—"amoretemperateclime"?Orforpeopleeasiertogetalongwith?Andinsteadbesatisfiedwithwhatyouhave,andacceptthepresent—allofit.Andconvinceyourselfthateverythingisthegiftofthegods,thatthingsaregoodandalwayswillbe,whatevertheydecideandhaveinstoreforthepreservationofthatperfectentity—goodandjustandbeautiful,creatingallthings,connectingandembracingthem,andgatheringintheirseparatedfragmentstocreatemorelikethem.

           Willyouevertakeyourstandasafellowcitizenwithgodsandhumanbeings,blamingnoone,deservingnoone’scensure?

           2.Focusonwhatnaturedemands,asifyouweregovernedbythatalone.Thendothat,andacceptit,unlessyournatureasalivingbeingwouldbedegradedbyit.

           Thenfocusonwhatthatnaturedemands,andacceptthattoo—unlessyournatureasarationalbeingwouldbedegradedbyit.

           And,ofcourse,"rational"alsoimplies"civic."

           Followtheseguidelinesanddon’twastetimeonanythingelse.

           3.